Helmet airflow control member and helmet

Abstract

A helmet airflow control member includes a plate-like main body arranged on a shell and including a main body rear surface that covers part of a shell outer surface, and at least one passage formation portion arranged on the main body rear surface. A periphery of the main body rear surface includes a first peripheral portion, which is shaped in correspondence with the shell outer surface and closes a space between the main body rear surface and the shell outer surface, and a second peripheral portion, which is spaced apart from the shell outer surface and defines an opening of the space between the main body rear surface and the shell outer surface in cooperation with the shell outer surface. The passage formation portion defines a passage in the space, with the passage extending from the opening into the space and returning from the space to the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A helmet, comprising:
 a shell including air intake openings located in a front portion of the shell and a recessed portion including air discharge openings located in a rear portion of the shell; and 
 a helmet airflow control member seated within the recessed portion, wherein the helmet airflow control member has a shape complementary to the recessed portion including
 a main body arranged on the shell and including a main body front surface and a main body rear surface, wherein the main body front surface is configured to appear as a flush and continuous surface with an outer surface of the shell when attached thereto, and wherein the main body rear surface is spaced apart from the outer surface to provide an opening between the main body and the shell, and 
 a plurality of ribs extending from a bottom surface of the main body to the shell within the opening, wherein the plurality of ribs define first u-shaped channel and a first air discharge channel adjacent to the first u-shaped channel, wherein the first air discharge channel Overlies and is in fluid communication with one of the air discharge openings in the shell and the opening, and wherein the u-shaped channel defines a curvilinear passage within the opening extending from and returning to the main body rear surface to provide an increase in ventilation efficiency of air flowing through the first air discharge opening in the shell through the first air discharge channel and out the helmet airflow control member when in use. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the helmet airflow control member further comprises a second air discharge channel adjacent to a second u-shaped channel, wherein the second air discharge channel overlies an other one of the discharge openings in the shell, and the second u-shaped channel provides an increase in ventilation efficiency of air flowing through the other one of the air discharge openings in the shell through the second air discharge channel and out the helmet airflow control member when in use. 
     
     
       3. The helmet according to  claim 2 , wherein the first u-shaped channel and adjacent discharge channel is arranged adjacent to the second u-shaped channel and adjacent air discharge channel at left and right passage formation portions arranged next to each other. 
     
     
       4. A helmet airflow control member, comprising: a main body including a main body front surface and a main body rear surface configured to cover part of a shell outer surface of a helmet; and a passage formation portion arranged on a bottom surface of the main body defined by a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom surface, wherein the passage formation portion includes a u-shaped channel comprising, when in use, a first fluid passage that is curvilinear in shape extending to and-from the main body rear surface, and an air discharge channel adjacent to the u-shaped channel to define, when in use, a second fluid passage to the main body rear surface. 
     
     
       5. A helmet airflow control member for a helmet shell, comprising:
 a main body including a main body front surface, a main body rear surface, wherein the main body has a smooth top surface and a bottom surface including at least one passage formation portion defined by a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom surface and proximate to the main rear surface; 
 wherein the main body rear surface is configured to be raised when the airflow control member is attached to the helmet shell to provide an opening to the at least one passage formation, 
 wherein the at least one passage formation portion comprises at least one u-shaped channel adjacent to an air discharge channel, wherein the air discharge channel is configured to be in fluid communication with an interior of the helmet shell and discharge air flow flowing into the helmet shell when in use, and wherein the at least one u-shaped channel is configured to increase ventilation efficiency of the air flowing through the discharge channel. 
 
     
     
       6. The helmet airflow control member of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one linear rib provided in a flow path of the air discharge channel. 
     
     
       7. The helmet airflow control member of  claim 5 , wherein the air discharge channel is defined by a single u-shaped rib and the u-shaped channel is defined by two u-shaped ribs spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
       8. The helmet airflow control member of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one passage formation portion is configured to divide the opening in a vertical direction. 
     
     
       9. The helmet airflow control member of  claim 5 , wherein the main body comprises two passage formation portions adjacently arranged on a left side and a right side of the main body.